Community service is deeply rooted in American culture. There have been repeated calls for the necessity of evaluating these programs, especially for service-learning. The purpose of this research was to validate an easy-to-use scale that measures 10 components of students' attitudes toward community service. The sample was drawn from two…

This study examined patterns and predictors of volunteering among students at a liberal arts college with an institutional culture that strongly promotes community service. Results showed that predictors varied across four different types of volunteering: community service, social action, religious service, and service to the college. Year in…

This longitudinal multi-institution study examines the effects of students' involvement in high school service clubs and their level of civic-mindedness when entering college on their propensity and intentions to volunteer during college. The level of civic-mindedness was measured by a self-rating of their ability to work effectively with others…

The impacts of community service participation on college student development are extensive and well documented. The characteristics of students that predict volunteerism, however, are not well understood. The purpose of this study is two-fold: first, to estimate the differences in first-year students' decision to volunteer while in college by…

Explores a sampling of student learning outcomes of community service activities with graduate and undergraduate students (N=108). Discusses and critiques the educative power of community service. Provides suggestions for conceptualizing and constructing service experiences. (Author/MKA)

Examines the impact of service participation on undergraduate student development based on data collected from 3450 students attending 42 institutions with federally funded community service programs. Results indicate that participating in service during the undergraduate years substantially enhances the students' academic development, life skill…

Assesses the extent to which students' attitudes toward international understanding are effected by an intensive two-year service-learning program. Research results generally supported the hypothesis that students who are involved in service learning show larger increases in international understanding than students involved in volunteerism or no…